Cubs notebook: Don't jinx the Cubs by talking about playoffs

Thursday

Sep 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMSep 27, 2007 at 12:23 PM

On the record, the Cubs are saying the right things about a potential playoff appearance. They are in the driver’s seat in the National League Central race, but until it becomes official, they don’t want to say anything that will jinx them or appear to be getting ahead of themselves. Behind the scenes, the players and organization are getting fully prepared in case the North Siders do make it.

On the record, the Cubs are saying the right things about a potential playoff appearance. They are in the driver’s seat in the National League Central race, but until it becomes official, they don’t want to say anything that will jinx them or appear to be getting ahead of themselves.

Behind the scenes, the players and organization are getting fully prepared in case the North Siders do make it.

Exhibit A: The team held a 45-minute meeting Wednesday to split up potential playoff shares.

Exhibit B: At Wrigley Field, the outfield has been resodded. Opposing teams have compared the beaten-up outfield to everything from a cow pasture to a monster truck rally arena.

Exhibit C: Manager Lou Piniella tweaked his starting rotation again.
Despite media speculation that Steve Trachsel might be out of the picture, the veteran right-hander is to start today’s series finale against Florida.

Carlos Zambrano’s next scheduled start has been switched from Saturday to Friday in Cincinnati.

The reason?

“It will be Zambrano’s fifth day,” Piniella said. “And assuming we go to the playoffs, (Game 1 on Wednesday) would be his fifth day.”

Is ‘Big Z’ the right choice?

In his career, Zambrano hasn’t been a successful big-game pitcher.

In the 2003 postseason, he was 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA in the NL Division Series, allowing 11 hits in 52⁄3 innings against Atlanta. He was 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts in the NLCS against Florida.

It could be argued he was just 22 years old at the time. However, in three Opening Day performances over the past three seasons, Zambrano has gone 0-1 with two no-decisions and an ERA of 8.16. He allowed 13 runs on 20 hits and issued 14 walks in 141⁄3 innings in those outings.

“I think I’ll ask Lou if I can be the second starter next year,” Zambrano said after this season’s opener. “I’m getting tired of giving up runs on the first day.”

Piniella said he’s not worried about Zambrano.

“I think a playoff game is a heck of a lot different than an Opening Day,” Piniella said. “He’s had a couple hundred innings under his belt since then. We’ll see what we do.

“We have plenty of time to decide the roster and plenty of time to decide the pitching for the playoffs. Just get there.”

Trachsel’s long rest

Trachsel hasn’t pitched since Sept. 13, when he earned a 6-2 win at Houston.

“This time of the year, the fifth starter gets bumped,” Piniella said. “It’s not only with our team. It’s with other teams, too. And we had two days off (last Thursday and Monday) to compound the issue. He’s pitched well here in this ballpark and pitched well against this team.’’

Trachsel is 10-12 with a 3.78 ERA lifetime against the Marlins and is 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA against them at Dolphin Stadium.

Kendall back in fold

Veteran Jason Kendall started behind the plate after rookie Geovany Soto had started the previous five contests.

Kendall is to start the next three — or possibly all four — of the remaining games on the regular season slate.

“(Soto’s) done a nice job — I wouldn’t have gone with him if I didn’t have confidence in him,” Piniella said. “This is experience time, believe me. This is where you use your experienced people. And you go with them.

“This is not the time to experiment too much. You go with your experience, and that proves to be the best solution.”